OKLAHOMA CITY – Mizzou Softball senior OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) was named to the Top 50 "Watch List" for the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, as announced Wednesday by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball.

Crane is coming off an outstanding 2015 campaign, earning National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Southeast Region Second Team, First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team honors. She shined at the plate and on the base paths a season ago, recording a .363 average, three home runs, 26 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.

The Troy, Mo., native enters the 2016 campaign with her name already etched in the Mizzou Softball record books. Crane has posted a .360-plus average in each of her first three seasons and her career .375 clip ranks second-highest in program history.

This year's preseason "Watch List" includes 25 seniors, 15 juniors and 10 sophomores. Student-athletes named to the list represent 35 NCAA Division I universities and 15 athletic conferences. Crane is one of eight players from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) on this year's list.

The Top 25 finalists for the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on April 13. Student-athletes making the Top 10 finalists will be announced on May 11 while the Top 3 will be named on May 25. The 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed on May 31.

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